TellerScore

Bank Forward is a state-chartered bank headquartered in Fargo, North Dakota, in business for about 99 years. At the end of Q2 2026 it reported $1.1B in total assets and $935.4M in deposits, with 12 offices across 2 states.

Based on its Q2 2026 filing, Bank Forward scores 70/100, which we describe as strong. That is higher than 58% of 897 banks with $1 billion – $10 billion. Among 60 banks headquartered in North Dakota, it ranks 33rd. Its strongest component is earnings (89/100; 1.72%), and its lowest is capital cushion (52/100; 10.17%).

TellerScore · Q2 2026

Scorecard

Capital cushion52/100
Tier 1 leverage ratio: 10.17%
Loan quality78/100
Noncurrent loans ÷ total loans: 0.67%
Earnings89/100
Return on assets (annualized): 1.72%
Funding & liquidity56/100
Loans ÷ deposits and uninsured-deposit share: 95.6% · 23.2% uninsured
Problem-loan coverage87/100
"Texas ratio": (noncurrent loans + foreclosed property) ÷ (equity + loan-loss reserves): 6.42%

The TellerScore is our own summary of the figures this institution reports publicly; it is not issued or endorsed by any government agency. It is not a prediction, and deposits within insurance limits are protected either way.

9 quarters

Health trend

From Q2 2025 to Q2 2026, the score fell 5 points (75 → 70), mostly because the loan quality component weakened by 11 points.

TellerScore
697275Q2 2024Q4 2024Q2 2025Q4 2025Q2 2026
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QuarterTellerScore
Q2 202469
Q3 202470
Q4 202470
Q1 202575
Q2 202575
Q3 202574
Q4 202573
Q1 202673
Q2 202670
Tier 1 leverage ratio
5.00%8.06%11.13%well-capitalized benchmarkQ2 2024Q4 2024Q2 2025Q4 2025Q2 2026
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QuarterTier 1 leverage ratio
Q2 202410.26%
Q3 202410.49%
Q4 202410.53%
Q1 202510.96%
Q2 202510.94%
Q3 202511.05%
Q4 202511.13%
Q1 202610.79%
Q2 202610.17%
Noncurrent loans
0.33%0.51%0.68%Q2 2024Q4 2024Q2 2025Q4 2025Q2 2026
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QuarterNoncurrent loans
Q2 20240.39%
Q3 20240.43%
Q4 20240.39%
Q1 20250.58%
Q2 20250.33%
Q3 20250.66%
Q4 20250.68%
Q1 20260.61%
Q2 20260.67%
Return on assets
1.33%1.63%1.93%Q2 2024Q4 2024Q2 2025Q4 2025Q2 2026
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QuarterReturn on assets
Q2 20241.33%
Q3 20241.46%
Q4 20241.41%
Q1 20251.93%
Q2 20251.81%
Q3 20251.86%
Q4 20251.74%
Q1 20261.77%
Q2 20261.72%
Quarter-by-quarter figures
QuarterScoreAssetsCapitalProblem loansROALoans/deposits
Q2 202670$1.1B10.17%0.67%1.72%95.6%
Q1 202673$1.2B10.79%0.61%1.77%87.6%
Q4 202573$1.1B11.13%0.68%1.74%93.3%
Q3 202574$1.1B11.05%0.66%1.86%101.3%
Q2 202575$1.0B10.94%0.33%1.81%102.0%
Q1 202575$1.1B10.96%0.58%1.93%95.5%
Q4 202470$1.0B10.53%0.39%1.41%98.9%
Q3 202470$1.0B10.49%0.43%1.46%101.1%
Q2 202469$1.0B10.26%0.39%1.33%100.5%

897 peers · $1 billion – $10 billion

How it compares with peers

Percentile against banks of similar size nationwide (100th = best among peers; for ratios where lower is better, the scale is flipped).

Capital ratio10.17%
41st
Total risk-based capital0.00%
13th
Problem loans0.67%
40th
Net charge-offs0.00%
73rd
Return on assets1.72%
80th
Net interest margin3.63%
45th
Efficiency ratio65.8%
29th
Loans to deposits95.6%
24th
Uninsured deposits23.2%
75th
Loan-loss reserves0.68%
10th
Texas ratio6.4%
30th

Similar-size banks in North Dakota

InstitutionScoreAssetsCapitalProblem loansCompare
Border BankBank Fargo, ND57 out of 100, Moderate$1.1B9.1%1.07%vs
Dakota Community Bank & Trust, National AssociationBank Hebron, ND76 out of 100, Strong$1.4B9.1%0.08%vs
Cornerstone BankBank Fargo, ND47 out of 100, Below average$1.9B9.6%2.35%vs
Starion BankBank Bismarck, ND56 out of 100, Moderate$2.1B9.4%1.45%vs
First Western Bank & TrustBank Minot, ND55 out of 100, Moderate$2.4B9.6%1.42%vs
Western State BankBank Devils Lake, ND78 out of 100, Strong$2.5B13.2%0.90%vs

Deposit insurance

Is my money safe at Bank Forward?

Yes. Bank Forward is an FDIC-insured institution (FDIC certificate #8941). Deposits are insured up to $250,000 per depositor, per insured bank, for each account ownership category.

An estimated 23.2% of deposits ($217.3M) are above the $250,000 FDIC insurance limit, below the peer median of 31%. Insured balances are protected regardless of the score.

The tier 1 leverage ratio is 10.17%, well above the 5% level regulators use as the "well capitalized" benchmark for this measure. Its total risk-based capital ratio is 0.00% (benchmark: 10%).

Check how much of your own balance is covered

12 locations

Branches

Bank Forward lists 12 offices in 12 cities across 2 states. Most locations:

All branch addresses and map

HMDA 2025

Mortgage lending

In 2025, Bank Forward reported 178 home-loan applications under HMDA (LEI 549300J9E3YDKIBPUY45): 152 originated ($70,190,000 total), 2 denied, and 24 withdrawn or closed by the applicant. Its denial rate on decided applications was 1.3%, compared with 22.2% for all lenders nationwide.

Denial rates depend heavily on loan type and applicant mix and are not a measure of fairness or of your own odds.

Identity & history

Profile

Legal name
Bank Forward
Former names
Security State Bank of Hannaford; Security State Bank of North Dakota
Type
State-chartered bank
FDIC certificate #
8941
RSSD ID
812557
Primary regulator
FDIC
Holding company
Bk Forward Employee Stk Ownership Plan&tr
Established
September 5, 1927
Headquarters
5650 37th Ave S, Fargo, ND 58104
Employees
217

Quick answers

Bank Forward: common questions

Is Bank Forward FDIC insured?

Yes. Bank Forward is an FDIC-insured institution (FDIC certificate #8941). Deposits are insured up to $250,000 per depositor, per insured bank, for each account ownership category.

What is Bank Forward's TellerScore?

70 out of 100 (Strong), based on its Q2 2026 publicly reported figures. The TellerScore is our own summary and is not issued by any government agency.

Has Bank Forward ever failed?

There is no failure record for FDIC certificate #8941 in the FDIC failed bank list.

How many branches does Bank Forward have?

12 offices as of the latest FDIC data, in 2 states.

Nearby

Highest-scoring banks and credit unions with branches near Fargo

InstitutionScoreAssetsCapitalProblem loansCompare
Fargo VA Federal Credit UnionCredit union Fargo, ND84 out of 100, Strong$14.1M12.6%0.00%vs
Valley Premier BankBank Hawley, MN81 out of 100, Strong$141.0M11.1%0.00%vs
Fargo Public Schools Federal Credit UnionCredit union Fargo, ND80 out of 100, Strong$58.2M12.2%0.01%vs
F.F.E. Federal Credit UnionCredit union Fargo, ND79 out of 100, Strong$3.8M13.5%0.00%vs
Western State BankBank Devils Lake, ND78 out of 100, Strong$2.5B13.2%0.90%vs
First United BankBank Park River, ND78 out of 100, Strong$810.8M10.1%0.01%vs